Sen. Somers: Opill must be affordable and accessible

For Immediate Release:

Sen. Somers Pushes for Opill
to be more affordable and accessible

Sen. Heather Somers, Ranking Senator on the Public Health Committee, today wrote to Sen. Richard Blumenthal to share her concerns about the affordability and accessibility of the Opill, a progestin-only birth control pill and the first over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive.

“Please continue to press the Opill’s manufacturer to offer a concrete and an affordable price range. An over-the-counter birth control pill must be affordable for all,” Somers wrote.  “I believe all birth control pills should be over-the-counter and affordable as they are in Europe. Please also continue your efforts to reduce the cost of the Opill so that people without insurance can have access without having to pay out of pocket.”

This year, Somers introduced and co-sponsored a new state law which allows trained pharmacists to prescribe birth control. The law expands access to reproductive health care, gives women more options, reduces costs, and improves health outcomes.

“Women’s health isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a moral issue,” Somers wrote.  “Reproductive health should be universally accessible. Please continue pushing to lower the cost of the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the U.S. so that broad distribution can begin as soon as possible.”

*Letter attached

Contact:
860 301 4055